Dundee 1
Dunfermline Athletic 1
League (First Division)

Match Report

In what Dunfermline manager Stephen Kenny classed as the best match he has seen so far in the first division, both teams shared the spoils in a hotly contested game in which Derek Lyle missed a 77th minute penalty.

Both teams struggled to gain a foothold in the opening minutes, with five minutes on the clock before any team got real attacking force together with Jani Sturm's shot failing to threaten as keeper Paul Gallagher gather the ball.

In the minutes that followed the defence had to be on their toes to prevent Mark Burchill from getting his name on the scoresheet. The combination of Gary MacKenzie and Kevin McDonald prevented Burchill from unleashing his shot after a bundle of attempted clearances and shots. Bobby Ryan then collected an Owen Morrison cross on the edge of the box shooting well wide of the target, with another Morrison cross forced Craig Samson into a save with Burchill waiting to slide the ball into the back of the net.

Dundee failed to take heed of the warning signs and fell behind in the 13h minute with a simple goal. Mark Burchill's low cut-back from the by-line found Jim Hamilton four yards out and in acres of space, free to pick his spot past helpless Samson. Former Dees forward Burchill was causing all sorts of problem with another last ditch Mackenzie tackle keeping him at bay after clever set-up play from Bobby Ryan on the left wing.

Dundee tried to haul themselves back into the game as Dunfermline pressed for the second goal to see the home team off. Joint leading top goalscorer Scott Robertson collected the ball in midfield, shirking off the challenge by Stevie Crawford before sliding the ball to Freddie Daquin. His ball back to Worrell saw the right back swing the ball into the box, but once again Jani Sturm's connection wasn't what it could be and the ball was comfortably gathered by Gallagher.

In the 23rd minute Dundee scored with their first shot on target in with a goal that carried a touch of luck. Paul Dixon's throw-in was cleared before being picked up by Daquin whose ball back inside to McDonald allowed the teenager to run into space before unleashing what seemed to be a weak shot from twenty-five yards. But a wicked deflection inside the area sent the ball in the opposite direction of the diving Gallagher and into the back of the net for an unlikely equaliser.

As the first half drew to a close Dundee looked as though they had drawn confidence from Kevin McDonald's goal and continued to press forward.

Gavin Swankie skipped past two defenders before chipping the ball towards Sturm but the Slovakian failed to connect with the ball. Sturm then turned provider as he fed the ball to Bob Davidson in the area who struggled to find room for his shot, with his final shot being rebounded clear by Aaron Labonte.

There were very little clear cut chances in the second half as Dunfermline resorted to throwing numerous balls into the box with no luck as the defence along with keeper Samson stood firm to the onslaught.

Derek Lyle replaced Jani Sturm with ten minute of the second half gone. He was to play an instrumental role in the seventy seventh minute when referee Steve Conroy pointed to the spot but before any penalties could be taken the ever threatening Bobby Ryan unleashed a stinging shot from twenty yards out after a throw-in by Owen Morrison. The crossbar was left shaking by the thunderous shot that should have received more than the final outcome.

In the 72nd minute Tam McManus replaced Mark Burchill and proved to be a somewhat of a livewire as he looked to hit the net against his old side.

Moments before his penalty, Derek Lyle was given plenty of space on the edge of the box as he brought down Craig Samson's free kick. He took time to stop the ball before hitting his shot towards Gallagher in the away goal but the shot failed to reach the target and was drawn wide.

In the 76th minute Tam McManus had his first chance with a turn and shot aimed straight at Samson who collected the ball easily.

Having scored one of the penalties against Livingston in the CIS Cup two weeks ago, Derek Lyle stepped up to the spot with an air of confidence after Paul Dixon had been felled just inside the area. The striker, who missed the first four league games of the campaign through suspension, sent his shot low to the left, with Gallagher guessing right and getting a hand to the ball to keep the score line level.

Derek Lyle each had a shot a piece before the referee called time: McDonald collected the ball from Scott Robertson, who had been recklessly challenged by Sol Bamba, and unleashed a shot similar to that which produced his first half goal, but this time the ball fell wide of the right upright. Lyle then beat the offside trap with two minutes to go, latching into a Kevin McDonald through ball. But his shot was weak as he struggled to stretch for the ball.

There were two bookings in the game, one a-piece to either side with Milan Palenik and Aaron Labonte receiving yellow cards for fouls on Jim Hamilton and Jan Zemlik respectively.

Match report written by Joanna Topping - Official Dundee website